The Sounds of Coyote Valley
From a single piece of golden grass that rustles in the wind, to a Coyote’s howl that echoes across the land, sound naturally flows through Coyote Valley and offers visitors a full sensory experience. One of those visitors, Will Rand, drew from the feelings, sights and sounds he reveled in during his visit to Coyote Valley to compose five chamber works that illuminate the story and importance of this vast landscape.
Will is a composer and the founder of EarthStory, a project that brings together community in the pursuit of ecological wholeness. Through his work at EarthStory, Will connected with Andrea Mackenzie, the General Manager of the Open Space Authority, who invited him to tour Coyote Valley in the Spring of 2025. During the tour, Will became captivated by the serpentine and wildflower-dotted ridges, rolling green hills and abundant agricultural fields and began to envision how music could help connect more people to Coyote Valley.
Music is this amazing connector. There’s always a pulse of life around us and music is a way to channel and embody that.
As they continued on the tour of Coyote Valley, Will and Andrea passed by the seasonal Laguna Seca wetland, farmers tending to their crops and paved roads that cut through the habitat of sensitive species who travel between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range. On the last stop of the tour, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, Will was stunned by the peaceful environment – a refuge for Santa Clara Valley residents who experience the daily commotion of Silicon Valley, just minutes away.
“Spaces like this provide an energy that feels similar to what we might find in therapy or a wellness experience. Walking through old trees and among rolling hills, this landscape is gentle on our bodies and eyes.”
After his visit to Coyote Valley, Will took time over the following months to compose and record five, one-minute chamber works with the help of fellow musicians Grace Alexander, Aireleen Zhu and Dario Acosta. Blending the melodies of a violin, cello and piano, Will conceived a musical journey that represents the biodiverse landscape and the significance of the region’s water sources, agriculture and wildlife. The Open Space Authority paired the short works with high quality imagery of Coyote Valley, turning the movements into visual mediums that fully immerse the viewer in the beauty of local nature.
There are multiple ways to enjoy the works – at home, while driving or biking (try listening while traveling along the roads of Coyote Valley) or exploring your favorite nature trails, among others. Explore Coyote Valley through the video playlist at the top of this page or download and enjoy them at your leisure.